The Secret We All Share, Depression. The Dark Clouds Over Us.

Keeping depression a secret makes it more debilitating. Those who accept the condition cope better and are more resilient.

“[Depression is] the leading disability worldwide, and people die of it every day.”

Research can’t yet explain whether depression is psychological or chemical, but treatments involving both aspects “have a role to play,” as does personality.

“Shutting out the depression strengthens it. While you hide from it, it grows.”

Depression is an “illness of how you feel,” so any treatment that lifts emotions is legitimate, whether conventional or alternative, known or new.

“Those who can tolerate their depression are the ones who achieve resilience.”

Due to misconceptions about depression, the depressed poor rarely explore treatment, because they see their depression as “commensurate” with their bleak situation. However, treatment could help them cope with their trials and improve their lives.

“The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality, and these days, my life is vital, even on the days when I’m sad.”

The belief that depression is “natural,” a product of evolution, is “misguided.” The ability to experience the full spectrum of emotion is valuable, and depression indicates a “broken” system.

Solomon is an activist in LGBT rights, mental health, education and the arts. He is a member of the boards of directors of the National LGBTQ Force and Trans Youth Family Allies. He is a member of the Board of Visitors of Columbia University Medical Center, serves on the National Advisory Board of the Depression Center at the University of Michigan, is a director of Columbia Psychiatry and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. Solomon also serves on the boards of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yaddo and The Alex Fund, which supports the education of Romani children. He is also a fellow of Berkeley College at Yale University and a member of the New York Institute for the Humanities and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Solomon lives with his husband and son in New York and London and is a dual national. He also has a daughter with a college friend; mother and daughter live in Texas but visit often.